€1.2m funding boost for new Galway women’s refuge

Minister of State for Housing, Jan O’Sullivan has announced that COPE Galway will receive €1.16m capital funding aid towards the provision of a new domestic violence refuge in the former Magdalen Laundry building on Forster Street.

COPE Galway announced the donation of the property by the Sisters of Mercy Western Province in 2013. Since then the focus has been to secure the necessary funding to deliver on this project which it is estimated will cost in the region of €2.5m in total.

Welcoming the announcement as excellent news for Galway, Jacquie Horan, CEO of COPE Galway said: “There has long been a need for a new refuge in Galway to accommodate women and children fleeing their homes because of domestic violence.

“Today’s announcement of €1.16m capital funding from the Dept of Environment is a major step on the road to ensure there is a fit for purpose domestic violence refuge for the city and county.”

Violence against women is pervasive and extensive across the EU states according to a survey carried out by the EU Fundamental rights agency in 2012.  26% of Irish women have experienced physical and /or sexual violence by a partner or non partner.

Organisations working with survivors point to low levels of disclosure by Irish women, a societal resistance to speak out about violence, and a poor response to victims in desperate need of practical, physical and emotional supports.

This funding is a strong endorsement of the need to improve our response locally, says Ms Horan.  “When women take that very brave step to leave their home with their children and to seek refuge it is only right and fitting that the accommodation they avail of is of the highest standard, and space is available when they come to our door.”

The existing refuge at Waterside House, which comprises of six bedsit type accommodation units and can accommodate up to six women and 15 children at a time, has been in operation since 1981.

In 2013 the refuge accommodated 94 women with 104 children but there were a further 215 presentations of women with 359 children who it was not possible to accommodate due to lack of space.

For more on this story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune